May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[Ginamarie]

Somebody actually did that a couple days ago:

Originally Posted by tigger137
I've just been studying the Tolls Assessment page of the Panama Canal website. (Busy afternoon at work, can you tell?!)

It seems they've changed the method of assessing tolls on passenger ships and, for a ship the size of the Disney Magic, from 1 Oct 2007 they will charge tolls on a per berth basis rather than on tonnage.

The per berth charge is $100. Which is the extra amount DCL are passing on to us. But what happened to the amount DCL would have been paying under the old system? Surely we should only be paying the difference between the old and the new?

I've read it and re-read it, but it certainly appears to me that the per berth charge is instead of the tonnage charge not as well as.

By my quick reckoning, if the Magic is 83,000 GRT with a passenger capacity of 2,500, the toll for our crossing will be $250,000, ie $100 per passenger. But the old toll would have been $239,050. So DCL should only be charging the difference, which is less than $5 each. Even if the official capacity is higher, I still can't see how it can amount to an extra $100 each.

This is exactly what I'm talking about- hmmmm.

 

[HollyTyler]

I just popped over to the EB PC thread to see what their thoughts are on the $100 increase. Somebody there had a good point. I think it was BibbidiBobbidiBoo (sp?) who mentioned that if it really is a government tax (or whatever DCL called it), it would apply to everybody, not just to those who haven't yet paid in full. Especially since DCL is saying it's a per person fee.

Hmmmmm......it's getting more and more confusing.

 

[taysmom]

I read the panama page and it looked like (don't hurt me) that there is no current per passenger charge and as of 10/1/07 it will be $100.00 per person and then goes up yearly. It also looks like they charge other fees based on tonnage(? whatever someone said earlier) and those too will increase yearly. So, if I was reading correctly, it looks like the $100.00 is legit. It still sucks, and I feel that we shouldn't be penalized for their error. Someone at DCL should have double checked. After all the chart is for the next 3 years. Plus, who charges an extra fee. When you buy a plane ticket..if the price or airport fee goes up, they don't charge you more. And there are so many more travel related instances. I wonder if there is a clause in our vacation contract that states they can raise our fees? I'm going to go thru all my paperwork and check it out. The only thing we can hope for is that people drop out of this cruise and the prices go down so we can recoup our money by downgrading! Teach them a lesson. They'll sell too many gty 11/12's and start bumping people back up!
Steph

 

[taysmom]

This is what I found on the cruise website:
Terms Subject to Change
Disney Cruise Vacations reserves the right to change all prices and other terms and conditions which appear on this website without prior notice. Price changes will not affect bookings with paid deposit or timely final payment, except where the increase results from increases in Government Taxes and Fees.

This was NOT in the paperwork I have, but it states on the paperwork that the entire terms and conditions are included in the disney cruise line brochure. Something I don't have. And since I didn't buy on the cruise line website, I didn't agree to the website terms and conditions. So I am wondering where I agreed to that clause?
Hmmmm.....

Steph

 

[woody73]

When we were on the August 2005 EB Panama Canal cruise, DCL announced how many thousands of dollars it paid to go through the PC.

Now I wish I remembered the amount.

Woody

 

[tigger137]

I read the panama page and it looked like (don't hurt me) that there is no current per passenger charge and as of 10/1/07 it will be $100.00 per person and then goes up yearly. It also looks like they charge other fees based on tonnage(? whatever someone said earlier) and those too will increase yearly. So, if I was reading correctly, it looks like the $100.00 is legit. Steph

The way I read it on the Panama Canal website is this:

Until 30 Sep 2007 a passenger ship the size of the Disney Magic will be charged by tonnage.
From 1 Oct 2007 it will be charged per berth.

The new method of calculating the tolls is INSTEAD OF the old. It is not an extra tax, just a different method of working it out. It will result in an increase, but nowhere near as much as DCL are charging their supposedly valued customers.

 

[woody73]

. . . The new method of calculating the tolls is INSTEAD OF the old. It is not an extra tax, just a different method of working it out. It will result in an increase, but nowhere near as much as DCL are charging their supposedly valued customers.

I agree.

Woody

 

[tigger137]

Well, maybe if they get bombarded by a ton of us, and we reply to their form response, and keep replying, we might stir things up a bit. Squeaky wheels get grease!

Holly, that's what I'm hoping too.

I know that most of us will pay the extra $100 because we really want to go on this cruise. But even if we can't persuade DCL to do the right thing, we can at least express our dissatisfaction and make sure they know we're wise to their tricks. If we all 'roll over' on this one without a whimper, how long before they are demanding yet another $100 because one of the ports has put their taxes up too?

A few years ago in the UK, one of the unions had a TV advert which was really good. A large, friendly bear sitting on the ground. An ant comes up behind and asks him to move. Bear can't hear or see the ant as it's too small. A couple more ants arrive and together they ask the bear to move, bear can't hear or see them. Then a whole army of ants arrive and shout, "Get out of the way!" - bear jumps and moves out of their way.

It's better if you can see the advert, trust me! But the idea is to show that an individual or a few people together may not be able to make a large organisation listen to them, but there is strength in numbers.

I can't see DCL backing down on this issue. But perhaps if enough of us complain then it will stop any idea they may have about further increases. And maybe they'll even consider a goodwill gesture such as a stateroom credit or onboard discount as someone previously suggested.

 

[granmaz]

Holly, that's what I'm hoping too.

I know that most of us will pay the extra $100 because we really want to go on this cruise. But even if we can't persuade DCL to do the right thing, we can at least express our dissatisfaction and make sure they know we're wise to their tricks. If we all 'roll over' on this one without a whimper, how long before they are demanding yet another $100 because one of the ports has put their taxes up too?

A few years ago in the UK, one of the unions had a TV advert which was really good. A large, friendly bear sitting on the ground. An ant comes up behind and asks him to move. Bear can't hear or see the ant as it's too small. A couple more ants arrive and together they ask the bear to move, bear can't hear or see them. Then a whole army of ants arrive and shout, "Get out of the way!" - bear jumps and moves out of their way.

It's better if you can see the advert, trust me! But the idea is to show that an individual or a few people together may not be able to make a large organisation listen to them, but there is strength in numbers.

I can't see DCL backing down on this issue. But perhaps if enough of us complain then it will stop any idea they may have about further increases. And maybe they'll even consider a goodwill gesture such as a stateroom credit or onboard discount as someone previously suggested.

Excellent! We need to keep the EB folk informed too.

Could do with finding out where to direct our complaints rather than to the customer service CM's who would only send the generic replies.

 

[HollyTyler]

Excellent! We need to keep the EB folk informed too.

Could do with finding out where to direct our complaints rather than to the customer service CM's who would only send the generic replies.

Maybe if we pester the offices here:

Contact Information:
Disney Cruise Line
210 Celebration Place
Suite 400
Celebration, FL 34747-4600
(800) 511-1333

 

[HollyTyler]

The way I read it on the Panama Canal website is this:

Until 30 Sep 2007 a passenger ship the size of the Disney Magic will be charged by tonnage.
From 1 Oct 2007 it will be charged per berth.

The new method of calculating the tolls is INSTEAD OF the old. It is not an extra tax, just a different method of working it out. It will result in an increase, but nowhere near as much as DCL are charging their supposedly valued customers.

I agree.

Woody

Me too.

 

[lillygator]

Happy Friday everyone....anyone have exciting plans for the weekend?


Nothing here....I just hope the weather is nice so we can be outside. Saturday night we have our pre draft Fantasy Football meeting....other than that I need to seriously clean out the closets...they are overrun with clothes that haven't been worn in years!

 

[Jhalkias]

Happy Friday everyone....anyone have exciting plans for the weekend?


Nothing here....I just hope the weather is nice so we can be outside. Saturday night we have our pre draft Fantasy Football meeting....other than that I need to seriously clean out the closets...they are overrun with clothes that haven't been worn in years!

Alex and I were at the Indians/RedSox game last night . . . rain delayed and we lost 14-9 - Manny hit two home runs, one of them 3rd longest at the Jake

It was a nice night with Alex even so - we used to do this about once every other week, but since school we have not had a chance to do it.

Saturday we are going up again, field box seats, and a terrace club pass (which we probably will not use). We got these tickets at a charity auction.

 

[LisaG520]

Happy Friday everyone....anyone have exciting plans for the weekend?


Nothing here....I just hope the weather is nice so we can be outside. Saturday night we have our pre draft Fantasy Football meeting....other than that I need to seriously clean out the closets...they are overrun with clothes that haven't been worn in years!

We are heading off to Comic Con in a few minutes. We're going again tomorrow. Mostly going to go to the studio panels to see upcoming release info. But today we are hoping to get into the Kevin Smith panel and tomorrow the Josh Whedon (love and miss Buffy...).

On Sunday Darrell is heading off for a conference at WDW without me He even gets to stay at our favorite hotel (Coronado Springs). We checked into me going with him but airfare was going to be $400 plus meals and tickets so decided it wasn't a godd time right now. Especially since just a month ago I spent 9 days in NC on vacation.

Happy weekend everyone!!

 

[Ginamarie]

No good weekend plans for me. It my brother's 4th birthday today, so we're having ice cream cake Otherwise I'm just working and WORKING!

Look, I actually checked in with you guys the last three days in a row. I promise I'm going to be better now!

 

[Jhalkias]

Oh, and I forgot too . . . this is the start of "Football's Greatest Week" here . . . The Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities begin tonight with a hot air balloon liftoff and food festival. Unfortunately, it has been storming all night and all morning, so I am really wondering if it will get "off the ground".

We are supposed to go tonight for the balloon liftoff, which is really cool and a lot of fun.

 

[granmaz]

Nothing much planned here apart from Church and then a house warming party on Sunday. John's having trouble with stress and has had bad headaches, raised blood pressure and cholesterol, so after our hectic weekend last weekend we are relaxing! He went to the chiropractor who worked on his neck and it is feeling much better.

The best news is.....I've just booked our flights! Arriving Tuesday the 6th May and leaving LA on the 28th May!

 

[tigger137]

Nothing much planned here apart from Church and then a house warming party on Sunday. John's having trouble with stress and has had bad headaches, raised blood pressure and cholesterol, so after our hectic weekend last weekend we are relaxing! He went to the chiropractor who worked on his neck and it is feeling much better.

The best news is.....I've just booked our flights! Arriving Tuesday the 6th May and leaving LA on the 28th May!

Marilyn

What route did you decide on in the end?

Hope John feels better soon and that you both enjoy a relaxing weekend.

 

[tigger137]

My latest response from DCL:

"Thank you for your e-mail. It's a pleasure to correspond with you once again.

You may be interested to know that the Panama Canal Authority also
explains this change in fees at their website at http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/tolls.html.
Unfortunately, they are now charging ships per berth, which is entirely
out of our control and as you know, has been incorporated into our
guests' government fees and taxes. While we anxiously anticipate
welcoming you aboard the Disney Magic again, we are unable to provide
any special consideration for these circumstances. Please be assured,
however, that your concerns have been taken very seriously.

Again, I regret any disappointment and continue to look forward to your
sailing with us."​

If I received this from a company in the UK, I would think the writer was being extremely sarcastic. But given the possible differences between the US and UK, I suppose I'd better give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's very good of him to suggest I look at the Panama Canal website, when my e-mail to DCL already referred to it.

Presumably their hope is that if they keep on refusing to answer the question and just send e-mails with over the top pleasantries, then I'll give up.

Well, perhaps eventually, but not just yet ...

 

[granmaz]

They certainly haven't addressed the fact that they have charged us the PC tolls once in the original cost of the cruise and now again when the PC authorities have changed how to charge the fees. They are going to find different ways of answering and keep hedging round the truth.